This season has been unlike any other with the sheer amount of huge grayling that have been landed from rivers all over the UK. A fish above 2lb is a special capture, but this year, such fish have almost faded into insignificance, as so many over 3lb have found their way into anglers' nets.
After already having had great success using the fly to bank some impressive specimens this year, Dan Bouskila decided to revert to more traditional coarse fishing tactics using a float and maggots. This proved to be a wise decision, as his only bite of the day turned out to be the biggest grayling we have seen landed this season at an incredible 3lb 8oz, and what a fish it is too!
“My friend Tom and I arrived late to a frosty bankside, eager to explore a less-trodden carrier stretch. The sky was bright, but the river was up with some colour so I hoped this might offset the challenging conditions,” Dan explained.
IF YOU WANT TO CATCH A BIG GRAYLING, YOU NEED TO HEAD TO ONE OF THESE STRETCHES.
“As we walked across the frost-covered fields in the rising sun, we were in great spirits. Even if the fishing wasn’t a success, what a beautiful way to spend the day,” he added.
From the start it was hard going on unexplored stretch of water with the pair hitting a couple of known spots, which unfortunately produced nothing for their efforts. The brighter conditions had definitely affected the fishing, but undeterred they fished on enjoying the social and surroundings.
“After working our way through the stretch, we passed a deeper, darker spot. Suddenly, the hook wedged into something which felt like a snag, before the tell-tale thud of a good fish registered on the rod tip,” Dan recalled.
"I was struggling to move it. Luckily, I had stepped up my leader, allowing me to pull a little harder than usual. With my rod bent in half and my heart pounding, I just wanted to see if it was a trout or a grayling."
"I thought to myself, it must be a trout by the way it was hugging the bottom and trying to swim upstream!"
NEVER CAUGHT A GRAYLING? THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU LAND YOUR FIRST ONE.
Believing it was a trout, Dan applied extra pressure to get it out of the swim, knowing a frantically swimming trout could easily spook any grayling nearby. By submerging his rod and pulling the line, he managed to turn the fish away from the fast, turbulent water in the middle of the pool.
"I shouted frantically to Tom to go downstream ahead of me as I was desperate to see what it was,” he said.
"Tom edged out with a pan net ready, and as I lifted the rod, the fish rose and briefly turned, revealing itself to be an absolute monster Grayling,” he added.
“Thankfully, Tom landed it on the first attempt—I’m not sure how much more my heart could have taken.
"We shouted and celebrated with a big high-five and a man hug as I thanked Tom for expertly landing this fish of a lifetime."
"At 3lb 8oz, I was absolutely gobsmacked. It was beautifully proportioned, in immaculate condition, dark with a big pronounced back and flank, the pictures really don’t do it justice.”
“What a way to end the grayling season. I’m still in shock,” he concluded.
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